Page 19 - Talk of Tequesta - January '24

The Talk Of Tequesta, Page 19

loCal goverNmeNT

Tax Talk

Dear Friends, the odds may be against us, I wish you great success with your track of distributing
Welcome to 2024! I hope resolutions! the ever-growing $4
you had a wonderful holiday One of my resolutions for the new year was to update the billion in property taxes,
season and a happy New Year. design of our monthly Tax Talk newsletter, so check that one off I enjoy spending time
Once again, it is time for the my resolution list as complete! I hope you like the new design. decorating and gardening
pesky New Year’s resolutions Anne M. Gannon, at my historic Delray
that so many of us make each Constitutional Tax Collector, home. I was so honored
year. Research shows that only Serving Palm Beach County to recently be featured in a video series by the city of Delray
9 percent of people who make Beach, where I reside with my two feline companions, Ms.
resolutions actually complete Welcome To My Home Biden, and Ms. Bader.
them. In fact, 23 percent of The video series, titled This Place Matters, highlights several
people quit them by the end of You know me as the Palm Beach County Tax Collector, historic homes and aspects of Delray Beach that add to its quaint
the first week and 43 percent quit by the end of January. While but what you may not know is that when I am not keeping charm. In the video, I take you inside my home and point out
some of my original art and restored furniture.
I was so thrilled to be a part of the video series and to share
my love for my neighborhood and community. In a county where
so many homes are newly built, I treasure the character my “old”
home has. It is an appreciation for the history of our area and
how some things don’t need to change too much!
I invite you to take a look at the video and see what I see every
day. To watch the video of my home tour with the City of Delray
Beach, visit bit.ly/46Vu4T3.

Hot Off The Press!
COLORECTAL SURGERY
Living longer, living better after a colorectal cancer diagnosis It’s the most wonderful time of
the year! Our 2024 Tax Planner and
An estimated 150,000 U.S. adults will be Services Guide is now available in
diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. both print and digital versions. This
Excluding skin cancer, it is the third most award-winning publication is our
common cancer diagnosed in both men and most requested item and provides
women each year in the United States. a comprehensive overview of all
the services our agency provides
Now for the good news. The 5-year survival rate to Palm Beach County residents.
for colorectal cancer has more than doubled If you have questions about
since 1970, climbing to 65%, due to medical renewing your driver’s license and vehicle registration or want
advances and early screening. For people with to find out the easiest way to pay your bill, this publication has
localized colorectal cancer (stage 1) the survival the answers to those questions and many more. There is also
rate is 91%. a monthly calendar to help you keep track of your payment
“Colorectal cancer is both preventable and deadlines. We’ve made the guide easy to use with color coding
highly treatable when we catch it early,” says guides to services and QR codes that will take you right to our
website for more information on a specific topic.
Steven Wexner, MD, PhD, Director of the Ellen Visit www.pbctax.com/tpsg to request a copy and view the
Leifer Shulman and Steven Shulman Digestive guide in a convenient digital format. The digital version also
Disease Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston contains links to corresponding content, forms, and resources
Hospital. “Patients can live long, quality lives Preserving quality of life right on our website. I hope you enjoy this publication as much
after a colorectal cancer diagnosis thanks to Advancements in surgical care have made it as we enjoy providing it to you!
treatment advancements.”
possible for many patients to achieve normal
Advanced surgical care bowel habits and bowel continence after Hello! We Are The Community
Treatment options for colon and rectal cancers colorectal surgery. Fewer patients today require Engagement Ambassadors
vary depending upon a person’s health, a permanent colostomy, in which stool is
age and cancer stage. While surgery is the diverted from the lower part of the digestive
most common treatment, chemotherapy and tract by connecting the end of the colon to Two of our staff who you
radiation therapy may be needed as well. The an opening in the belly. Thanks to newer may see out and about in Palm
Beach County are our Community
type of surgery performed will depend on the surgical techniques developed and/or refined Engagement Ambassadors, Amy
extent of the cancer and where it’s located. at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, it is more Ebersbach and Victoria Green.
common for patients to need only a temporary
Some patients will require the removal of part Among their other tasks,
or all of the colon (colectomy) or rectum (rectal ileostomy to let the body rest and heal, rather Ebersbach and Green attend
than a permanent colostomy.
resection). Others may require the removal of community meetings and events,
both. These procedures can be done during “Preserving and improving the quality of life are where they provide information
open surgery, through one large incision, or always our top priorities, and the work being about the tax collector’s office Amy Ebersbach
using minimally invasive techniques, which done by my colleagues in Florida, Ohio, London and answer questions about our
include laparoscopy, robotic, and transanal and Abu Dhabi attest to these priorities,” agency. Amy Ebersbach has been
endoscopic surgery through a few small says Dr. Wexner. “For patients with colorectal a member of the team since August
incisions. cancer, that means eliminating their cancer 2021, and she covers the northern
while helping them preserve bowel continence part of the county. She lives in
“Patients benefit from minimally invasive whenever possible.” West Palm Beach with her two
surgery in many ways, including less pain and fur babies. To reach her, email
scarring, a shorter hospital stay, and quicker The Maroone Cancer Center at Cleveland AEbersbach@pbctax.org or call
recovery,” explains Dr. Wexner, who led the Clinic Weston Hospital is an ACS Commission (561) 355-3357.
Cleveland Clinic team in Florida that pioneered on Cancer Accredited Program and was the Victoria Green is a new member
®
this approach. “Most importantly, we can first in Florida and second in the nation to of my team, having joined the tax Victoria Green
perform these less invasive procedures while earn accreditation from the ACS National collector’s office in October. She
still minimizing the risk for cancer recurrence.” Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. covers the southern part of the county. Green lives in Boynton
Beach with her husband and two sons. To reach her, email
VGreen@pbctax.org or call (561) 355-1176.
TALK WITH AN EXPERT.

Howard Berg, MD, sees patients in Wellington, Coral Springs and
West Palm Beach. To schedule a consultation or seek a second opinion
from Dr. Berg or another Cleveland Clinic colorectal specialist in Florida,
call 877.463.2010. Visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Colorectal to learn
more about colorectal surgery.